The undefeated Detroit Lions are on the national cover of Sports Illustrated this week, according to the magazine's official Twitter account.

The cover shot captures Calvin Johnson outjumping Terence Newman for the game-winning touchdown in Sunday's 34-30 victory over the Dallas Cowboys. The headline reads, "The Hungry Lions," with the readout, "Do you believe? Detroit Does".

It's not the first time a Lion has appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Barry Sanders graced the cover at least three times, including the Hall of Fame edition in 2004, and Joey Harrington made the cover during his rookie season of 2002 in an issue that touted "the best crop of (young quarterbacks) in 20 years."

Doak Walker was featured on the Oct. 3, 1955, issue, Nick Pietrosante was on the Nov. 19, 1962, edition, and the Lions were supporting players on covers in 1969 (that featured the Minnesota Vikings defense), 1982 (Browns linebacker Tom Cousineau) and 2003 (Jake Plummer).

Being on the cover of Sports Illustrated has come with its perils in the past. In 2008, Tom Brady was on the cover of the NFL season preview issue and tore ligaments in his left knee in the opening game.

Sports Illustrated's Peter King addressed the SI cover jinx in a Tweet today after news of the cover was released, writing: "If we didn't put Leos on the cover, we'd be dissing a 4-0 team. When we do put them on the cover, we're idiots for jinxing them."

Lions coach Jim Schwartz said on his weekly radio appearance on 97.1-FM this morning that he doesn't buy into the SI cover jinx.

"We’ve got enough stuff to worry about than worrying about stuff like that," Schwartz said. "I’m probably the least superstitious person that I know. You win with good players that are coached well and have good roles on the team and all that different stuff. I hate to disappoint anybody, but it’s not where somebody sits during the game. It’s not all those other things. It makes it fun for them to talk about but it really doesn’t matter a whole lot once you get onto the field."

In all my years as a Lions fan, I don't think they've ever received this much attention and publicity so early in a season, not even in 1991 when they went 12-4. And with MNF coming up, they're going to be the talk of the NFL this week. They've been ranked as the #4 team on ESPN's Power Rankings for two weeks in a row now. I just hope they're not getting jinxed.

I sure hope that our players can handle all of this attention and glamor and don't let it get into their heads. A part of me feels that they'd be better off if they could have their success quietly, sneaking up on other teams like a lion stalking its prey on the African savanna.

October 5th, 2011, 3:36 am

WarEr4Christ

QB Coach

Joined: October 26th, 2005, 11:48 pmPosts: 3039Location: Elkhart, In.

Re: Guess which Lion is on the SI cover this week?

Reading Growlers post has led me to a question:

Can a head coach seal the locker room?

If I were Schwartz, and I had a young team that is in the process of doing something spectacular, I would do absolutely everything to insulate my guys. Seal the locker room, restrict media coverage, and begin talking with the team about why I as the HC had done just that.

I understand that these are mature men, but if winning is the goal, there is a time to celebrate, and that's in Feb. I honestly believe that this team needs to be on lock down in regards to the media. I'm sure ESPN, and other media types would claim censorship, and the people have a right to know, but it's not documented in the Constitution so no they don't necessarily have a RIGHT to know.

Am I being to harsh? We've seen a good thing come (finally) to the city of Detroit in our Sports Rennaisance (Lions and Tigers) and I think everything should be done to keep the team grounded, hungry, and insulated from the hype. Thoughts?

_________________2 Chronicles 10:14, "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

October 5th, 2011, 8:37 am

Growler

Div 1 - Starter

Joined: April 8th, 2010, 3:24 pmPosts: 561

Re: Guess which Lion is on the SI cover this week?

I hope that they aren't celebrating too much. They got their butts kicked in the first halves of two consecutive games and should be 2-2 or at best 3-1 right now. I give them a lot of credit for having the fortitude needed to get those comeback wins, but those halftime deficits should be of great concern to them.

October 5th, 2011, 8:21 pm

m2karateman

RIP Killer

Joined: October 20th, 2004, 4:16 pmPosts: 10019Location: Where ever I'm at now

Re: Guess which Lion is on the SI cover this week?

Growler wrote:

I hope that they aren't celebrating too much. They got their butts kicked in the first halves of two consecutive games and should be 2-2 or at best 3-1 right now. I give them a lot of credit for having the fortitude needed to get those comeback wins, but those halftime deficits should be of great concern to them.

Couldn't agree more with this post.

_________________I will not put on blinders when it comes to our QBs performances.

October 6th, 2011, 9:50 am

LionsFan4Life

Fired Head Coach (0-16 record)

Joined: October 30th, 2004, 12:30 pmPosts: 2205Location: Austin, TX

Re: Guess which Lion is on the SI cover this week?

m2karateman wrote:

Growler wrote:

I hope that they aren't celebrating too much. They got their butts kicked in the first halves of two consecutive games and should be 2-2 or at best 3-1 right now. I give them a lot of credit for having the fortitude needed to get those comeback wins, but those halftime deficits should be of great concern to them.

Couldn't agree more with this post.

Yep!

_________________

NEVER GIVE UP!

October 6th, 2011, 2:05 pm

The Legend

Off. Coordinator – Joe Lombardi

Joined: February 11th, 2005, 3:01 pmPosts: 4026Location: WSU

Re: Guess which Lion is on the SI cover this week?

Quote:

Reading Growlers post has led me to a question:

Can a head coach seal the locker room?

If I were Schwartz, and I had a young team that is in the process of doing something spectacular, I would do absolutely everything to insulate my guys. Seal the locker room, restrict media coverage, and begin talking with the team about why I as the HC had done just that.

I understand that these are mature men, but if winning is the goal, there is a time to celebrate, and that's in Feb. I honestly believe that this team needs to be on lock down in regards to the media. I'm sure ESPN, and other media types would claim censorship, and the people have a right to know, but it's not documented in the Constitution so no they don't necessarily have a RIGHT to know.

Am I being to harsh? We've seen a good thing come (finally) to the city of Detroit in our Sports Rennaisance (Lions and Tigers) and I think everything should be done to keep the team grounded, hungry, and insulated from the hype. Thoughts?

Explain your comments on why the team needs to be locked down from the media? Not sure what you are afraid of. The players will celebrate regardless and it is more than a fantasy to think that the media is at fault for the slow first half starts. Really doenst make any sense to me at all - if anything I think disrupting the usual routine runs more risk of messing with guys psyche and preparation and that the players esp the vets probably enjoy getting some positive press after years of losing. Finally, I see this as a move that alienates players from the fans and Schwartz would never make a move like this - he knows how much the fans mean to the team and vice versa.

This is a good team, this isnt some delicate miracle thats happening, the media hovering around as usual makes no difference in anything. Even if they are blocked it still doesnt stop players from watching espn or reading newspapers and magazines if you think players could get big heads.